Best Practices for Dynamic Webcast Meetings Good list of lessons based on (sometimes hard) experience in the conduct of 'dynamic webcast meetings' (or synchronous conferencing). Also includes a list of things the author has learned NOT to do. Heh. The article is based on a recent meeting of the eLearning Forum (so you should follow the link). By Jay Cross, Internet Time Group, January 14, 2002.[Refer]

An Extended Epistemology for Transformative Learning Theory and Its Application Through Collaborative Inquiry The title says it all (and then some). Drawing on Jack Mezirow and John Heron's work in the field, this paper argues that transformation be understood as changed habits of being and proposes that collaborative inquiry is an effective strategy for facilitating learning and transformative learning. By Elizabeth Kasl and Lyle Yorks, TCRecord, January 29, 2002.[Refer]

New Work on Transformative Learning "Transformative learning refers to learning that results in deep change or a transformation of our tacitly acquired frames of reference - composed of sets of assumptions and expectations - that determine, filter, and often distort the way we think, feel, decide, and act." This article provides a brief overview, a description of the process, and references. By Victoria Marsick and Jack Mezirow, TCRecord, January 29, 2002.[Refer]

Ahead of the Curve Useful profile of Dave Winer, co-author of the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and (the article asserts) collaborator with Netscape on the RSS protocol. Some errors - RSS, as originally formulated by Netscape, stoop for "Rich Site Summery" - the name "Really Simple Syndication" is Winer's recasting. And while Winer is correctly characterized as the champion of simplicity, the article does not mention Winer's steadfast opposition to RDF (which is what distinguishes his RSS 0.9 from O'Reilly's RSS 1.0). Also, compare this item with the Ubiquity article's comments about SOAP and security. Simplicity comes with a price. By Steve Gillmor, InfoWorld, January 28, 2002.[Refer]

The Best Internet Filter: It's In Students' Minds, Not Their Computers I agree with the author's take in this editorial: "the strongest and most enduring standards are ones that people uphold for themselves. Computer users should have the skills and judgment to avoid filth after they leave school or the library. Congress should not force schools and libraries to substitute an imperfect technological barrier for an effective and educational system based on trust and monitoring." By Editors, Eugene Register-Guard, January 29, 2002.[Refer]

WWW: Service Provider Quick overview of the rise of web services, including Microsoft's .Net initiative, and an outline of some of the problems facing deliver, problems such as security. The first applications, suggests this article, will be things like user authentication, time stamping, peripheral access and query services (such as Yellow Pages). By S. Sadagopan, Ubiquity, January, 2002.[Refer]

Roger Schank Launches New Company: Socratic Arts What's interesting about this project is not the fact that Roger Schank is launching an new online Master's program, but that he is launching the entire program for the cost of a single course. Schank's curriculum is based on a "learning by doing" methodology that focuses on real world skills and awards credit based on work accomplished rather than courses passed. By Press Release, Socratic Arts, January 28, 2002.[Refer]

In Practice...
What does it mean to talk about learner centered learning? I think that at least a part of means something very different from the traditional system of classes and courses. By Stephen Downes

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